In the heat of summer, the relentless high temperatures and humidity can be overwhelming. Fortunately, drinking some tea daily helps cool the body and provides relief.

Tea's primary function is as a beverage, but its uses extend far beyond drinking. Whether for relaxation at home, hydration during outdoor activities, or post-workout recovery, tea is one of the best choices.

So, besides drinking, can tea also be eaten? Well, life offers more than just eating and drinking! Here are eight ingenious uses for tea—perfect for lifestyle enthusiasts to bookmark.

1. Cooking (Enhancing Your Culinary Skills)

When boiling beef, add a small bag of ordinary tea leaves along with the seasonings. The beef will cook faster and have a fresher aroma.

Tea can also be used to boil eggs, resulting in a light and refreshing flavor.

2. Food Preservation (Thanks to Catechins)

Soak meat in a 5% tea solution before refrigeration to extend its freshness and prevent spoilage.

Bury fresh eggs in clean, dry tea leaves and store them in a cool, dry place to keep them fresh for 2–3 months.

Of course, while preservation is useful, eating fresh is always better.

3. Removing Fishy Odors (Easily Eliminate Unpleasant Smells)

To remove fishy odors from containers, boil used tea leaves in them for a few minutes. For pans with lingering smells, scrub with soaked tea leaves and rinse with water.

4. Cleaning (Natural and Eco-Friendly Cleaning Agent)

Use leftover tea water to wipe mirrors, glass, furniture, and even muddy shoes for effective stain removal.

5. Deodorizing (Absorb or Burn Away Unwanted Smells)

Place dried used tea leaves in a nylon sock and stuff it into smelly shoes to absorb moisture and eliminate odors. About one cup of tea leaves is needed for adult-sized shoes.

Place 50 grams of scented tea in a cloth bag and store it in the fridge to neutralize odors. Refresh the tea by sun-drying and reusing it.

Burn used tea leaves in areas with bad odors to freshen the air—just avoid burning other materials.

6. Foot Soak (A Luxurious Way to Combat Foot Odor)

The tannins in tea can effectively kill fungi causing athlete's foot. Soaking feet in tea-infused water nightly can cure the condition in a few tries. For sweaty or smelly feet, soaking in tea water or sprinkling dry tea leaves in shoes helps reduce odor.

7. Watering Plants (Flowers Thrive on Tea)

Use tea-infused water to maintain soil acidity or mix tea leaves into soil to enrich it.

8. DIY a Refreshing Tea Pillow

While shopping, I noticed many grass-filled pillows marketed as tea-scented. Some smelled fresh, others slightly aged.

Dried used tea leaves make excellent pillow stuffing—soft and fragrant, with potential benefits like relieving headaches and improving vision. Collecting enough for a 300g pillow might take a month if you drink 10g daily. Alternatively, buy fresh tea leaves for instant results.